Assailants in killings called gang members

Gang members are responsible for two homicides over the weekend, authorities confirmed Monday.

On Sunday evening, a 30-year old North Hollywood man was gunned down outside his residence in the 7000 Block of Fulton Avenue.

Gabriel Garcia was walking with a friend outside the apartment complex where Garcia lived, when a vehicle with several Latino men pulled up and shot him with a large-caliber weapon, Los Angeles police Detective Mike Coffee said.

In another incident in Arleta on Friday evening, Mario Rodriguez, a 21-year-old man from Sylmar with no gang affiliation, was shot and killed after he and two friends were confronted by three individuals suspected of being gang members, police said.

The shooting occurred about 11:35 p.m. in the 13100 block of Reedley Street. One of the suspects reportedly shouted an unknown gang name before pulling out a rifle and killing Rodriguez, who died at the scene, an LAPD spokesman said.

Police are seeking the shooter, described as a Latino male, 17-19 years old, 6 feet tall and 180 pounds.

There have now been 43 gang-related homicides in the San Fernando Valley this year, and 85 total.

Anyone with information in the North Hollywood shooting can call North Hollywood detectives at (818) 623-4075; for the Arleta shooting, call Foothill Division detectives at (818) 834-3115.